Bodhi tree at Sarnath.
– Photo : Amar Ujala
Expansion
Thousands of people from not only India but also from abroad come to Sarnath, the place where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon, to see the Bodhi tree (peepal). But that tree is breaking down day by day. The forest department is now preserving it as heritage. Not only this, the forest department is also preserving the leaves falling from the tree. The leaves will be given as gifts to foreigners, explaining their historical importance.
The Bodhi tree is the fourth tree of its generation. It is also associated with the first sermon of Lord Buddha in Sarnath. Lord Buddha preached to his first five disciples sitting under this tree. Later, a part of this tree was taken and planted in Sri Lanka.
In the year 1931, a branch of the tree was brought to Sarnath from Sri Lanka and planted in the Mulagandha Kuti Vihar Buddhist complex. Since then, Buddhist followers from all over the country and abroad have been coming here to pay their respects and perform Parikrama of the tree. Till now, people take its leaves and keep them in their homes, books or prayer rooms. But now the forest department is keeping these leaves safe.
said the officer
Considering the use and importance of the Bodhi tree, a plan is being made to make gifts from its leaves. This gift will be specially given to foreigners so that they can go to their country and tell them about the importance of this tree. – Dr. Ravi Kumar Singh, Conservator of Forests
